Ground clamp



March 31. 1925. I 1,531,411

c. v PERRY GROUND CLAMP Filed March 15r 1924 @www /ffa@ army PatentedMar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STAT CHARLES V. PERRY, WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

GROUND CLAMP.

Application led March 15, 1924. Serial No. 699,546.

To all lwhom t may conce-m:

Be it known that I, CHARLES V. PERRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at West Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GroundClamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to grounding devices for electric currents of thetype adapted for clamping a pipe.

The essential objects of my invention' are the prevention of arcing;special adaptability for use upon vertically disposed pipes; convenienceand security of attachment of the conductor to the device together withfacilitating the soldering operation; and the attainment -of theseobjects in a simple, strong, and inexpensive structure.

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such parts and insuch oombinations of parts as fall within the scopel of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specificationFigure l is an enlarged perspective view of my clamp engaging a pipe,

Figure 2, a plan view of the unbent clamp,

Figure 3, a detail view of the attaching plate, and

Figure 4, a section taken on line Ll---i of Figure l.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

In the form of my invention herein illustrated 6 is a flat oblong stripofA copper or other bendable or pliable electrically conductive metal,provided with a longitudinal series`of holes 7 extending from one endadapted to receive a screw or bolt. Fast to the outer or upper side ofthe strip, at the end opposite to that containing the holes is ametallic connecting plate l8 disposed transversely to the strip andhaving integral with its end a lip 10 projectin laterally from the stripand provided wit a lebannel 11 parallel to the strip. The plate 8 islongitudinally slit in each lateral margin, as at 12, forming flexiblefingers 13. In the center of the plate is an opening 15 adapted toregister with an opening 16 in the strip 6 in line with the holes 7.Fast in the openings is the tubular body 18 of an attaching member,indicated generally by 19, provided with an internal thread 20 andhaving upon its ends ybearing disks 22 and 23 engaging respectively theplate 8 and strip 6. As a tight surface engagement of the plate 8 withthe strip 6 is essential to prevent arcing between these members it isdesirable that the disks 22 and 23 not only be of ample dimensions, butalso that they tightly engage and bind the metallic elements `embracedthereby. One convenient means of attaining this result is by spinningthe disk 23 which results, in this instance, in imparting to itscircular or annularface a slight convexity. The disk 22 is, in the formthereof herein shown, of rectangular outline with opposite sidesadjacent the arms 13. A clamping screw, indicated generally by 25,comprises a threaded. shank 27 engageable with the thread 2O and adaptedto pass through a hole 7, and a screw head 29 adapted to engage theouter face of the strip 6.

As illustrated lthe strip 6 is manually bendable around a verticallydisposed pipe 3l, and the screw 27 is then passed through one of theholes 7 and engaged in the threaded bore 33 of the member 19 whereby thestrip is clamped to the pipe. The'eX- posed end of the electric wire orconductor 35 is placed in the channeled lip or seat 10, and the fingers13 are thereupon bent down over the wire, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.With the wire thus' held in engagement with its seat the operator hasthe freedom of both hands to apply the solder to attach the wire to itsseat. l

Having thus described one illustrative em-y bodiment of m invention, itis understood that the speci c terms employed are used in a descriptivesense only, and are not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of theinvention being defined by the appended claims.

1. In a ground clamp, a strip adapted to be bent between its ends arounda pipe and provided near one end with a hole, and near its other endwith an opening, a'connecting plate attached to the side of the stripprovided with an opening, a lip upon the plate projecting from the stripadapted to receive a conductor, an attaching member comprising a tubularbody in the openings provided ,with an internal thread and disksintegral Q i' l 1,531,411

2. In a ground clamp, a strip adapted to with a channel adapted toreceive a conbe bent between its ends around a pipe and duetor, andfingers supported by the plate provided near one end With a hole, andnear disposed transversely to the channel. 10 its other end .with anopening, a plate at- In testimony whereof I have affixed my 5 tached tothe strip provided with an open- Signatllleing registering with thefirst opening, a lip integral with the end of the plate provided CHARLESV. PERRY.

